Hopes for the Offseason: Greg Garcia

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Note: Hopes for the Offseason will be a series of posts regarding my hopes for players on the current St. Louis Cardinals’ 40-man roster. 

Greg Garcia is today’s topic on Hopes for the Offseason.

He’s our other middle infielder from Hawaii.

More from St Louis Cardinals News

Here’s a few basics on Garcia. The Cardinals selected him the in the seventh round of the 2010 MLB Draft from the University of Hawaii. He made his major league debut April 28, 2014. Listeners of FSMW or KMOX broadcasts will also know Garcia is grandson of former MLB manager Dave Garcia.

The Cards added Garcia to the 40-man roster after the 2013 season and promoted him to the major leagues on April 28. After a two week stint with the team, the Cardinals optioned him to Memphis. In 14 plate appearances, he collected just two hits but had a .429 OBP.

If you’ll remember, it was during this time that he was hit by a pitch to earn the Cardinals a walk-off victory over the Chicago Cubs at Busch. That’s one of the better kinds of victory, you know!

Garcia was recalled to St. Louis on August 19, after an injury to Mark Ellis, but was optioned back to AA on August 25.

Basically, youth, inexperience and a lack of consistent playing time is hindering him from getting better at the major league level. Keeping him at Memphis or Springfield is good to get him experience. But what after that! It’s hard to imagine right now that he would get much of a chance to play with the big league team with Dean Anna and Pete Kozma sure to get more time off the bench of the birds.

That said here’s my thoughts on Garcia’s offseason:

* Enjoy the times you will get called up to St. Louis! There will be occasions due to injury or inconsistency or a hot streak that you’ll get to spend time with the big club getting some experience. Enjoy and build off of it!

* Learn a new position if you really want more playing time with St. Louis. Second base and shortstop are kind of set for a while, I’d say. It’s good to have those skills but, like Matt Carpenter, it might be a great idea to learn some other positions … like say first base … to get you some extra looks.

* Be prepared to be the topic of trade talks. The direction of the club really changed after the death of Oscar Taveras. The team has needs now and if Garcia is a piece that can be added to get something good, so be it. I like the guy, but I love my team.

What do you think, What are your hopes for Greg Garcia? Comment below!